Running (9 Viewers)
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Great_Expectations
Well-Known Member
Just singed up for the Kenilworth Half Marathon next Sunday, albeit I was slightly put off by the free Wasps tickets for all runners!
Today it’s the Midlands Road Relays at Sutton Coldfield Park (apparently the largest urban park in Europe). 6 legs of 5.9km for the men, and 4 legs of around 4km for the women.
Our senior team will be looking for a top 6 finish I reckon. Some fantastic and historic clubs who are very strong, will be determined to stop us... Birchfield Harriers, Tipton Harriers, Notts, Wolves & Bilston, Bristol & West, Leicester Coritanian, City of Stoke, amongst others...
I’m running the anchor leg for the veterans (over 35) team and I expect we will be hoping to push towards top 10 veterans team.
Women look like might have a stronger team than recent years... if they get a strong turnout could be a reasonable position.
Plus a host of junior age levels which we usually perform well in.
Our senior team will be looking for a top 6 finish I reckon. Some fantastic and historic clubs who are very strong, will be determined to stop us... Birchfield Harriers, Tipton Harriers, Notts, Wolves & Bilston, Bristol & West, Leicester Coritanian, City of Stoke, amongst others...
I’m running the anchor leg for the veterans (over 35) team and I expect we will be hoping to push towards top 10 veterans team.
Women look like might have a stronger team than recent years... if they get a strong turnout could be a reasonable position.
Plus a host of junior age levels which we usually perform well in.
Great_Expectations
Well-Known Member
There’s quite a few half marathons coming up in October (e.g. Rugby, Leicester, Birmingham). Anyone doing any?
I haven’t ran since the baby was born (four weeks Monday), but still tempted to do Rugby and Birmingham. Just not sure how good an idea it is without much prep!
I haven’t ran since the baby was born (four weeks Monday), but still tempted to do Rugby and Birmingham. Just not sure how good an idea it is without much prep!
Hot one out there today...
Godiva seniors did get that 6th place overall... our second leg with a massive run to go from 20th up to 6th in a single leg, which the rest of the team then held onto.
Ladies had a superb run, from 50th after leg 1, progressing through on each leg, to finish an impressive 18th.
In the veterans, we also progressed through from 17th after leg one... I took over in 10th place on the final leg, and despite not having a great run, I managed to catch Wolves & Bilston on the final corner, and pull away up the final straight to nick 9th place at the death.
Such a range of standards. At the front, our Somalian superstar, who has ran in the Olympics and World Champs, ran just over 18mins for nearly 6km, and still only had around the 11th best time of the day. I ran about 22:58 which is around 19:30 Parkrun pace, on a hilly course, in the heat, after an 8 hour race last weekend. So a creditable run, but I’d have been blown away on an earlier leg (luckily on the final leg the race is so spread out, it’s almost like a time-trial most of the time).
Minor disappointment for our veterans... we try to aim at being 2nd Cov team, behind our own seniors... which means trying to beat the fast teams from Northbrook, Masseys, Sphinx.... but today Northbrook fast team managed to pip our veterans by a few minutes...
Our fast team comfortably the fastest team from Cov/Warwickshire....
Overall winners Birchfield Harriers... when they turn up in force, there’s few teams in the country who can touch them.
Godiva seniors did get that 6th place overall... our second leg with a massive run to go from 20th up to 6th in a single leg, which the rest of the team then held onto.
Ladies had a superb run, from 50th after leg 1, progressing through on each leg, to finish an impressive 18th.
In the veterans, we also progressed through from 17th after leg one... I took over in 10th place on the final leg, and despite not having a great run, I managed to catch Wolves & Bilston on the final corner, and pull away up the final straight to nick 9th place at the death.
Such a range of standards. At the front, our Somalian superstar, who has ran in the Olympics and World Champs, ran just over 18mins for nearly 6km, and still only had around the 11th best time of the day. I ran about 22:58 which is around 19:30 Parkrun pace, on a hilly course, in the heat, after an 8 hour race last weekend. So a creditable run, but I’d have been blown away on an earlier leg (luckily on the final leg the race is so spread out, it’s almost like a time-trial most of the time).
Minor disappointment for our veterans... we try to aim at being 2nd Cov team, behind our own seniors... which means trying to beat the fast teams from Northbrook, Masseys, Sphinx.... but today Northbrook fast team managed to pip our veterans by a few minutes...
Our fast team comfortably the fastest team from Cov/Warwickshire....
Overall winners Birchfield Harriers... when they turn up in force, there’s few teams in the country who can touch them.
Sky_Blue_Daz
Well-Known Member
Managed 10 minutes on a treadmill today before me ankle decided to give up , I think I might have to give up my dreams of being a professional footballer at the young age of 43 . Swimming and cross trainer for me from now on sadly
Sky Blue Pete
Well-Known Member
Swimming for me
Sky_Blue_Daz
Well-Known Member
I’m determined to get out running again even if it’s a lap round memorial park to begin with.might not be till next summer as I have to have more surgery in the spring but I want to do it
clint van damme
Well-Known Member
Have the doctors told you you'll be able to run again Daz?
Sky_Blue_Daz
Well-Known Member
The oprthapedic specialist suggested I try a treadmill to run on in the new year, I’ve been using it to do a fast uphill walk on at the moment and it’s been tough
I’ll use the treadmill till the next op and hopefully go from there
clint van damme
Well-Known Member
Good luck mate
Tough club session last night.... from the Uni, all the way up Westwood Heath Road, all the way past Tile Hill Station, the length of Banner Lane, all the way down Broad Lane, and back from the Wing Wah to the uni.
In itself that’s around 7 miles, in the rain, wind and dark... but to keep the group together we did a series of hard efforts up to a mile in length... then when you reach the end you double back to the last person. This keeps the ladies and slower people feeling safe as we are much closer together than if we all went off at our own pace, and allows the faster guys to push themselves hard. Which means myself and the others nearer the front did considerably more than 7 miles when accounting for all the doubling back. Worked well though.
This weekend our fast seniors are in the National Road Relays at Sutton Coldfield... I won’t get anywhere near selection.
May do Bedworth Parkrun tomorrow, but got Fell races, the cross-country season, and the Snowdonia Marathon all imminent.
Since joining Godiva I don’t really get an off-season, as the winter is just as busy as the summer with all the cross country races.
In itself that’s around 7 miles, in the rain, wind and dark... but to keep the group together we did a series of hard efforts up to a mile in length... then when you reach the end you double back to the last person. This keeps the ladies and slower people feeling safe as we are much closer together than if we all went off at our own pace, and allows the faster guys to push themselves hard. Which means myself and the others nearer the front did considerably more than 7 miles when accounting for all the doubling back. Worked well though.
This weekend our fast seniors are in the National Road Relays at Sutton Coldfield... I won’t get anywhere near selection.
May do Bedworth Parkrun tomorrow, but got Fell races, the cross-country season, and the Snowdonia Marathon all imminent.
Since joining Godiva I don’t really get an off-season, as the winter is just as busy as the summer with all the cross country races.
Sky Blue Pete
Well-Known Member
Killerton parkrun tomorrow. Had to start swimming lots for fitness but still manage a parkrun each week
Did Bedworth Parkrun this morning... wasn’t expecting much after a couple of weeks disrupted training and some personal issues, and so it proved.... 20:37 which is two minutes off my best. Although I certainly didn’t push it 100%
Good to blow some cobwebs away, but even in the circumstances I feel I should have been comfortably under 20mins....
Good to blow some cobwebs away, but even in the circumstances I feel I should have been comfortably under 20mins....
speedie87
Well-Known Member
Managed my first parkrun since July today after back issues - managed one of quickest times of year after only a couple of runs in last 8 weeks. Crazy. Training must be over rated!
On a serious point the strength and stretching / bike work Has done it’s job.... and managed to bang out a negative splits race which I never do ... made up so nice to be able to run again.
On a serious point the strength and stretching / bike work Has done it’s job.... and managed to bang out a negative splits race which I never do ... made up so nice to be able to run again.
Coventry Godiva Harriers finished an incredible 29th team in the country, at the National Road Relay Championships today. A huge improvement on last year where we finished just outside the top 50.
We were 5th Midlands team behind Birchfield Harriers, Bristol & West, and very narrowly Tipton Harriers and Notts AC.
Next up for the club is the cross-country season.... various relays, the Midlands and National Champs, and best of all the bread-and-butter of the League...!
We were 5th Midlands team behind Birchfield Harriers, Bristol & West, and very narrowly Tipton Harriers and Notts AC.
Next up for the club is the cross-country season.... various relays, the Midlands and National Champs, and best of all the bread-and-butter of the League...!
Great_Expectations
Well-Known Member
Snowdonia marathon sounds interesting but I would assume difficult!!!
Sky Blue Pete
Well-Known Member
200th parkrun coming this Saturday
yes although it’s mostly on road, there’s a good 2750-3000ft of climbing, and some off-road.... apparently the equivalent flat length is 29.3 miles, so perhaps 20-30mins longer than a standard flat road marathon.
unfortunately health problems in the family mean I’m no longer making the trip...
A few family issues mean I’ve barely raced in the last couple of months, and training has been somewhat sporadic.
But we are bang into the cross-country season now. First league fixture was last weekend in the Birmingham League (arguably best league in the country, with teams like Birchfield, Tipton, Cheltenham, and the Olympic academy from Loughborough Uni, and strong sports academies at Birmingham and Warwick Uni’s)....
Was supposed to be on Saturday afternoon in Malvern, but due to the flooding was hastily rearranged to Saturday morning in Coundon Park. The much earlier start led to slightly depleted teams from even ourselves at Cov Godiva (and no doubt several other teams). Godiva finished 7th on the day (16 in the league).... Birchfield Harriers won it comfortably and look fairly unstoppable this season. The encouraging sign for Godiva is we are looking a lot closer to a lot of the other cubs, and it could be a tight season at the top half. To be honest even staying in Div1 is a success... a lot of teams who get promoted just can’t compete and go straight back down.... only Worcester in recent years seem to have established themselves as a strong presence in the top league.
Massey Ferguson had a great start in Div2 and could contend for promotion... but again the top league may be a step too far if they make it. As a fellow Cov team I wish them well.
Next week I’m taking a couple of relay teams up to the Lancashire moors for a Fell Racing relay... I’ve loaded the mixed team with the strongest possible combination of runners, as there’s an outside chance of a medal in that “smaller” category, which would be a huge scalp for a club from “down south”....
Personally.... next year I want a real go at the Welsh Fell Running Champs, and would like to put myself in contention for the Warwickshire team for the county champs. Would like to get my Parkrun down to 18mins too, as it looks a step too far this year (currently 18:34).....
But we are bang into the cross-country season now. First league fixture was last weekend in the Birmingham League (arguably best league in the country, with teams like Birchfield, Tipton, Cheltenham, and the Olympic academy from Loughborough Uni, and strong sports academies at Birmingham and Warwick Uni’s)....
Was supposed to be on Saturday afternoon in Malvern, but due to the flooding was hastily rearranged to Saturday morning in Coundon Park. The much earlier start led to slightly depleted teams from even ourselves at Cov Godiva (and no doubt several other teams). Godiva finished 7th on the day (16 in the league).... Birchfield Harriers won it comfortably and look fairly unstoppable this season. The encouraging sign for Godiva is we are looking a lot closer to a lot of the other cubs, and it could be a tight season at the top half. To be honest even staying in Div1 is a success... a lot of teams who get promoted just can’t compete and go straight back down.... only Worcester in recent years seem to have established themselves as a strong presence in the top league.
Massey Ferguson had a great start in Div2 and could contend for promotion... but again the top league may be a step too far if they make it. As a fellow Cov team I wish them well.
Next week I’m taking a couple of relay teams up to the Lancashire moors for a Fell Racing relay... I’ve loaded the mixed team with the strongest possible combination of runners, as there’s an outside chance of a medal in that “smaller” category, which would be a huge scalp for a club from “down south”....
Personally.... next year I want a real go at the Welsh Fell Running Champs, and would like to put myself in contention for the Warwickshire team for the county champs. Would like to get my Parkrun down to 18mins too, as it looks a step too far this year (currently 18:34).....
bezzer
Well-Known Member
Just signed up for the Lisbon Half Marathon in March of next year. Flights and AirBnB booked too, time to up my training.
I've done plenty of 10k runs but only 1 slow half marathon (2hrs 9min). The Lisbon course is very flat and should give me an opportunity to go sub 2 hours.
I've done plenty of 10k runs but only 1 slow half marathon (2hrs 9min). The Lisbon course is very flat and should give me an opportunity to go sub 2 hours.
Razzle Dazzle Dean Gordon
Well-Known Member
I like this approach, ill see if i can convince the wife i need to go international with my running! Im quite surprised this is a flat course, id always thought Lisbon was full of hills for some reason!
bezzer
Well-Known Member
Yes you're right, Lisbon is very, very hilly. Thankfully the Half is pan flat, crossing the bridge and then tracking the river.
We'll_live_and_die
Super Moderator
My running has been going pretty well recently.
I knocked 20seconds off my parkrun PB so I’m down to 24.01.
I did Rutland 10k nightrun on Friday and managed to knock and incredible 3 minutes off my pb, so down to 51.17.
I’ve also just joined Northbrook AC. I’ve done 3 sessions as a guest and really enjoyed it, so I’m hoping to get stronger and faster as a result.
Signed up to cov half again and I want to be sub 2 hours, maybe with some good training in the build up sub 1hr 50?
I knocked 20seconds off my parkrun PB so I’m down to 24.01.
I did Rutland 10k nightrun on Friday and managed to knock and incredible 3 minutes off my pb, so down to 51.17.
I’ve also just joined Northbrook AC. I’ve done 3 sessions as a guest and really enjoyed it, so I’m hoping to get stronger and faster as a result.
Signed up to cov half again and I want to be sub 2 hours, maybe with some good training in the build up sub 1hr 50?
Sky Blue Pete
Well-Known Member
Magnificent
We'll_live_and_die
Super Moderator
I’m a little bit quicker than those parkruns I did with you and your lad 5/6 years ago Pete
Razzle Dazzle Dean Gordon
Well-Known Member
That sounds a bit more scenic than the Milton Keynes half ill be doing next month!
Razzle Dazzle Dean Gordon
Well-Known Member
3 minutes is a great amount to take off a pb, i think you're right and 1:50 should be your target by April of you can fit the training in. Ive just set my own pb for a half (not an organised one, just by myself) which was 1:48:48 so im thinking i should be going for 1:45 at tye Cov Half. I managed 2:02 last time, completely imploded from about Mile 11!
We'll_live_and_die
Super Moderator
I had a chest infection last time round and did 2.03. Couldn’t breathe at all once I got to keresley. All the way back, which is downhill was walking/very slow jogging.
Great stuff and good luck with Northbrook. If you really want to improve then clubs are the way to go. If you get involved at the Midlands Road Relays next spring (Northbrook usually have a large contingent there), look out for the Coventry Godiva flag and ask for Pete the fellrunner...!
10 miles tonight at club night. Felt like winter tonight. First time I’ve needed to wear two layers to run since last winter!
Razzle Dazzle Dean Gordon
Well-Known Member
Bloody hell, you must have been flying before that to still manage just over 2 hours! The hill on Radford Road was not a welcome sight in the closing stages!
We'll_live_and_die
Super Moderator
I wanted sub 2. I never wanted to do another half, so yes I went for it. Next time around I’m hoping to average 5-5.10/km. I haven’t worked out what time that’ll give me yet, but I’m feeling confident I can maintain that pace after fridays 10k averaging 5.05/km
We'll_live_and_die
Super Moderator
If you’re ever down at Bedworth parkrun again, I’m on the core team and I’m nearly always there.
Flying Fokker
Well-Known Member
Mrs does Bedworth park Run as well. There last Saturday.
will be at least a few weeks, possibly mid December, but I’ll say hello if I’m down...!